Turkey occupies an important position next to chicken, duck. Guinea fowl and quail in contributing the most evolving sector, which is playing a significant role in augmenting the economic and nutritional status of varied population. They form almost two percent of the total poultry population. They are reared for meat only and its meat is the leanest among other domestic avian species. Turkeys are mostly concentrated in and around cosmopolitan cities of India in small numbers. Indigenous and non-descriptive turkeys are found in good numbers in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh and some other parts of India.
3. Turkey Production
Turkey occupies an important position next to chicken, duck. Guinea fowl
and quail in contributing the most evolving sector, which is playing a
significant role in augmenting the economic and nutritional status of
varied population. They form almost two percent of the total poultry
population. They are reared for meat only and its meat is the leanest
among other domestic avian species. Turkeys are mostly concentrated in
and around cosmopolitan cities of India in small numbers. Indigenous
and non-descriptive turkeys are found in good numbers in Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh and some other parts of India.
4. Breeds of turkeys in India:
Turkeys are not classified into breeds, however seven standard varieties
are available, Bronze, White Holland, Bourbon red, Narragansett, Black,
Slate, Beltsville small white.
5. 1. Board breasted bronze:
The basic plumage color is black and not bronze. The females have
black breast feathers with white tips, which help in sex determination as
early as 12 weeks of age
6. 2. Board breasted white:
This is a cross between Board breasted bronze and White Holland with
white feathers. This variety was developed at the Cornell University.
White plumage turkeys seems to be suitable Indian-Agro climatic
conditions as they have better heat tolerance and also good and clean
in appearance after dressing.
7. 3. Beltsville small white:
This variety was developed at Agricultural University Research Station,
Beltsville, USA. It closely resembles the Board breasted white in color
and shape but smaller in size. Egg production, fertility and hatchability
tend to be higher and broodiness tends to be lower than heavy
varieties.
8. Turkey egg:
The turkey will start lay from the 30th week of age and
its production period is 24 weeks from the point of lay.
Under proper feeding and artificial lightening
management turkey hens lay as much as 60-100 eggs
annually. Nearly 70 percent of the eggs will be laid in the
afternoon. The turkey eggs are tinted and weigh about
85 gms. Egg is noticeably pointed at one end with
strong shell. The protein, lipid carbohydrate and mineral
content of turkey egg are 13.1%, 11.8%,1.7% and 0.8%
respectively. The cholesterol is 15.67-23.97 mg/gm of
yolk.
9.
10. Turkey meat:
Turkey meat has nutritional and sensorial properties
which make it almost ideal raw material for rational and
curative nutrition. People prefer turkey meat because of
its leanest nature. The protein, fat, energy value of
turkey meat are 24%,6.6%, 162 Calories per 100 gm of
meat. Mineral like potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron,
selenium, zinc and sodium are present. It is also rich in
essential amino acids and vitamins like niacin, vitamin B6
and B12. It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and essential
fatty acids and low in cholesterol.
11.
12. Housing:
Housing protects turkeys form sun, rain, wind, predators and provides
comfort.
In hotter parts of the country the long axis of the house should run
from East to West.
The distance between two houses should be at least 20 meters and the
young stock house should be at least 50 to 100 meters away from the
adult house.
The width of the open house should not exceed 9 meters.
The height of the house may vary from 2.6 to 3.3 meters from the floor
to roof.
An overhang of one meter should be provided to avoid the rainwater
splash.
The floor of the houses should be cheap, durable and safe preferably
concrete with moisture proof.